Thread protector



P 1940- R. R. IRWIN ET AL 2,213,430

THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet.l

V I i7 12 14 I U I i' aim ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 3, 1940. R- R. IRWIN ET AL THREAD PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 29, 1959 J1 1.\\ 'ENTQRS @l'qnw vd zlek m A TTORNERS.

IIHHHIL I umlmmlmllllllllllll ,3" IIIIIIII'I/IIIIII III WITNEJJEJPatented Sept. 3, 1940 PA ENT OFFICE I THREAD PROTECTOR Robert R. Irwin,Sewickley, and Harlow W.

Culbertson, Edgeworth, Pa.

f Application October 29, 1938, seems... 237,694

3 Claims. (01. 13s 9s)f Our invention is. concerned with protectors suchas are normally employed to shield threads from shocks and blows duringthe transportation and handling of the threadbearing member.

s, Such protectors commonly have a main body portion composed. of ametallic collar which surrounds external shielded threads or issurrounded by-internal shielded threads. It has also long been commonpractice to hold the protector in position relative to said threads byplacing between said collars and threads pliant material such as cork,rubber, rope, etc., which firmly engages said collar and threads.Throughout this specification including the claims, pliant is used to.describe any resilient, yielding, or fibrous material such as rubber,cork, hemp, etc.

The primary object of our hereinafter described invention is toprovide aprotector in which pliant thread-engaging material is so attached to acollar that verysmall amounts of it need be used and that the protectormay be employed over and over upon numerous thread bearing memberswithout the need for any renewal or adjustment of such material.

Our second object is to provide a protector in which pliant material isso attached to a collar thatthe material lies along'its exposed wall andcushions it against external'blows, thus helping to prevent theprotector from being jarred loose and unscrewed.

Our third object is toprovide a protector in which pliant material issoattached to a collar that some portionsof each pliant element engage theshielded threads while other portions of each element lie along theexposed wall of the collar andcushion it against external blows, thushelping to prevent the protector from being jarred loose and unscrewed.

Other objects will be apparent from the ensuing description.

.Toishield external threads we use a protector which .has, briefly, amain body portion composed of a collar which encircles and is. spacedfrom the threads of. a threaded member. Pliant elements are so attachedto this collar that one or more internal portions of each element liealong the inner wall of the collar for engagement with the shieldedthreads and thus hold or help to hold the protector in position by aresilient and yielding connection between thecollar and threads.Moreover, theelements are so attached that their intermediate parts,,between the internal portions, lie along the outer periphery of thecollar to form'one, or, moreexternal portions which re-, siliently andyieldably cushion the protector against blows which would otherwise tendto jar it loose and unscrew it. Where each such pliant elementpassesfrom the inner to the outer wall of the collar, it is held fixedly inposition by means upon the collar, as for example, lugs pro- .5 jectingfrom the ends of the collar, if the elements pass over its ends, orpreferably .by the walls of apertures in the collar, if the elementspass through apertures in going from the inner to the outer wall.

To shield internal threads, we merely adapt the above idea to a collarwhich is surrounded bysuch threads.

Our preferred embodiments of this invention are disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is ,asectional view along thelongitudinal axis of a protector; Fig. 2 a side elevation; Fig. 3 avertical section along the line III-III of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 asectional view, partlygin elevation, showing the protector in positionupon external threads; Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, a sectional viewalong the axis and a side elevation of a slightly modified form ofprotector; and Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, a sectional viewalo-ng theaxis and a side elevation of a protector for use with internal threads.

vThe emodiment of our invention disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, for useupon external threads, has a main body portion composed of a circularmetallic collar l whose inner wall may describe either a right cylinderor a truncated cone, as will be hereinafter described. Through thecollar is a row 2 of spaced apertures 3a,; 3b, etc., normally even innumber, which preferably pass from its inner to its outer wall atoblique angles, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Also through collar 1 is asecond row 4 of spaced-apertures 5a, 5b, etc., each of which preferablyis in longitudinal alignment with one of the apertures in row 2 and atan oblique angle opposite in direction to that of the aperture in row 2.

A pliant element 6 passes in and out through the apertures in row 2,following the oblique angles of the apertures in the manner disclosed inFig. 3, to form a series of internal portions 1 and a series ofintermediate external portions 8. In a similar manner, a pliant element9 passes in and out through the oblique apertures in row 4 to form aseries of internal portions l0 and a series of intermediate externalportions ll. Pliant elements 6 and 9 preferably fit each aperture rathersnugly, both to prevent any infiltration of dirt and also toeliminate'any movement of the elements relative to collar I.

One end of collar l is preferably provided with 5;

a closure member I2 which stiifens the collar and also prevents theinfiltration of dirt. Two integral lugs I3 and I4 protrude outwardlyfrom closure member I2 for engagement by a lever I5 which may be used toscrew the protector on or ofi the shielded threads. A packing ring I 6is preferably placed against closure member I2 in such position that,when the protector is screwed up, the ring is tightly pressed betweenthe shielded threads and closure member I2, to more firmly seat theprotector upon the threads and to resist the infiltration of dirt.

Fig. 4 discloses this embodiment of our protector in position upon thetapered .external threads I! of a thread bearing member l8, such as apipe. As the protector is'screwed into position, internal portions 1' ofpliant element 6 are wedged between the inner wall of collar I andthreads I! and positively and firmly engage the threads. Pliant element9 is so proportioned that its internal portions I are similarly wedgedand positively and firmly engage threads IT, it being necessary in theprotector shown that element 9 be'somewhat larger than element 6 tocompensate for the increment in distance between tapered threads I I andthe inner wall of collar I'. Ofcourse, if there is no such increment,the inner wall of collar I being spaced uniformly from threads I1,element 9 is normally of the same size as element 6, it being merelyrequisite that elements 6 and 9 be so proportioned that each firmly andtightly'engages threads I8, regardless 0f the angle between threads I!and the innerwall of collar I. 1

In the protector thus disclosed, it will be noted that threads I! arefullyprotected from any external shock, pliant elements 6 and 9cushioning them from any blows striking collar I. Moreover, collar I isprevented from being jarred loose by such blows, for their shocks aredissipated by the resilient and yielding connection efiected by internalportions I and I0 and by the cushioning eiTect' of external portions 8and II of said elements. Due to the manner by which thesepliant-elements are attached to collar I, a minimum-amount of materialis used, and this materialisfirmly fixed in position, so that theprotector may be utilized numerous times without necessity for-renewaloradjustment of said elements. Of course, as many encircling rows ofapertures and pliant elements may be used as is necessary or desirable,while We contemplate the possible use ofone alone with some protectors.

Having referencenow to the embodiment of our invention shown in Figs.and 6, the main body portion of this protector is composed of a collar2|, generally similar to collar I, although normally its inner wall isuniformly spaced from threads I! regardless of their taper. Thus ifthreads I7 are cylindrical, this inner wall is cylindrical; while if thethreads are tapered, its inner wall bears a like taper. Collar 2I isalso provided with a row 22 of small spaced apertures 23a, 2311, etc.,and spaced from row 22 is a second row 24 of spaced apertures 25a, 25b,etc. A pliant element 26 is-passed out through aperture 23a in throughan aperture 251), out through a second aperture 230, and so on aroundcollar 2|, so that there are formed in' the element inner portions 2!which liealong the inner wall of collar 2I and engage threads I! whenthe protector is in place, and outer portions 28 which lie along theouter wall of collar 2I- and cushion it from any shocks or blows.- In asimilar manner, a pliant element 29 is passed out through aperture 2312in through aperture 250, out through aperture 23d, and so on aroundcollar 2| to form thread engaging internal portions 30 and cushioningexternal portions 3I. As in the former embodiment, pliant elements 26and 29 are firmly held in one position, so that the protector may beused over and over without replacement or adjustment of these elements.Moreover, both thread engaging and cushioning efiects are achieved withthe use of a small amount of pliant material. Of course, the exactmanner in which said elements are woven in and out through theapertures, and the number of elements so used is immaterial to thespirit of my invention. Likewise, the rows of apertures may be increasedto three or four, as may be necessary or desirable.

In this embodiment of our invention a closure member 32 attached tocollar 2I consists merely of a flange which extends inwardly from theend of the collar. Abutted against closure member 32 is .a packing ring33 which is pressed against the end of threads Has the protector isscrewed up, thus helping to seat the protector firmly and to prevent theinfiltration of dirt.

Fig. 7 discloses a protector for shielding internal threads, such astapered threads 39, upon a pipe coupler 40. The main body portion ofthis protector is composed of a collar 4| which is so proportioned that,when inserted Within coupler 40, it is spaced from threads 39. Passingthrough the collar is a row 42 of small apertures 43a, 43b, etc. andspaced from said row is a second row 44 of small apertures 45a, 451),etc. As in the protectors previously explained, pliant material ispassed in and out through these apertures, Fig. 7 portraying the use ofpliant elements 46 and 49, which pass, respectively, through theapertures of rows 42 and 44. Thus, there are formed in pliant element 46a series of external portions 48 which engage threads 39 and in pliantelement 49 similarly acting external portions 5|. Together theseexternal portions hold the protector in position, and provide a yieldingconnection between it and threads 39 which absorbs the shocks from blowsstriking the protector. Moreover, these elements are held firmly inposition, so that the protector may be used over and over without theneed for renewal or adjustment.

A flange 52 encircles and extends outwardly from collar 4| to form aclosure member, and a packing ring 53, pressed between closure member 52and threads 39, helps to seat the protector firmly in place and toprevent the infiltration of dirt. Two lugs 54 and55 preferably projectfrom flange 52 for engagement by a lever 55.

We contemplate numerous variations in the embodiments disclosed above,particularly in the manerin which pliant material is placedupon theprotectors. Thus, as many encirclingrows of.

apertures as are desirable may be employed,.one row alone beingsufiicient in some protectors. Moreover, pliant material may be woventhrough these apertures in irmumerable ways, while still presentingalternativethread engaging and cushioning portions.

According to the provisions of the patent statut'es, we have explainedthe principle and construction of our invention and have illustrated anddescribed what we now consider to represent its best embodiments.However, we desire to have it underst00d=that, within the scope of theappended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

along the inner wall of said collar for engage- We claim:

1. A protector for external threads of a threaded member comprising acollar adapted to encircle and be spaced from the threads of suchmember, the wall of this collar being provided With a plurality ofapertures, and pliant elements passing in and out through said aperturesin such manner that inner portions of said pliant elements lie along theinner wall of said collar for engagement with said threads, while outerportions of said pliant elements lie along the outer wall of said collarand cushion it, said elements being carried by said collar and movedthereby into engagement with said threads.

2. A protector for external threads of a threaded member comprising acollar adapted to encircle and be spaced from the threads of suchmember, the wall of said collar being provided with a plurality ofspaced rows of spaced apertures, and pliant elements which pass inwardlythrough the apertures in one row and outwardly through the apertures ina second row in such manner that inner portions of said elements liement with said threads, while outer portions of said elements lie alongthe outer wall of said collar and cushion it, said elements beingcarried by said collar and moved thereby into engagement with saidthreads.

3. A protector for internal threads of a threaded member comprising acollar adapted to beencircled by and spaced from the threads of suchmember, the walls of said collar being provided with a plurality ofapertures, and pliant elements passing in and out through said aperturesin such manner that a plurality of circumferentially spaced externalportions of said elements lie along the outer wall of said collar forengagement with said threads with their connecting portions extendingfrom one aperture to another inside the collar, said elements beingcarried by said collar and moved thereby into engagement with saidthreads.

ROBERT R. IRWIN. HARLOW W. CULBERTSON.

